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Attacks on U.S. communications infrastructure have surged since 2024. Here are the 10 states where networks were most at risk in 2025.

By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

Last year saw an alarming 59% rise from 2024 in attacks on communications infrastructure in the U.S., with 18,000 incidents recorded in 2025 alone, according to data compiled by NCTA – The Internet & Television Association.

The data, released in a June 2026 white paper by the association, blames theft as a main incentive.

“This theft and vandalism are driven in part by scrap metal resale incentives, limited oversight of secondary metals transactions, and legal gaps that leave communications assets insufficiently protected,” the white paper states.

Rising resale prices for copper and a lack of oversight in the scrap metal market continue to make copper theft attractive for criminal networks.

In total, over 11.8 million customers were impacted by an average of 50 incidents per day nationwide, the NCTA white paper states.

Here are the top 10 states where networks were most at-risk last year.

10. Illinois

Illinois had 463 incidents of theft or vandalism of communications network infrastructure that were reported by large and small internet service providers in 2025, the 10th most of all U.S. states. Source: NCTA

9. Mississippi

In Mississippi, 474 incidents of theft or vandalism plagued the state’s network infrastructure in 2025. The disruptions delayed emergency response times and caused economic impacts. Source: NCTA

8. West Virginia

West Virginia had 539 incidents logged as attacks on communications infrastructure in 2025, according to a survey of ISPs that serve the state. Source: NCTA

7. Kentucky

Across the border from West Virginia, theft and vandalism of communications network infrastructure is an equally big problem. The state had 542 incidents in 2025, according to an NCTA survey of ISPs. Source: NCTA

6. North Carolina

A total of 650 incidents in 2025 across North Carolina counting as attacks on network infrastructure were recorded by the NCTA’s survey of ISPs. That number earns North Carolina status as the sixth most dangerous state for communications infrastructure last year. Source: NCTA

5. Georgia

A breakdown of hotspots in Georgia reveals that Atlanta had the highest number of attacks on network infrastructure in 2025, with 179, followed by Marietta, with 91, and Lithonia, with 76. Panoloa, meanwhile, had 73 incidents reported by ISPs last year, and Stockbridge had 33. Source: NCTA

4. Washington

Surprisingly, the state’s largest city did not top the list of hotspots for network infrastructure vandalism in Washington, which is 4th on the list of top 10 states that were dangerous for network infrastructure in 2025. Kent was the state’s epicenter for network vandalism, with 106 incidents in 2025 alone. Seattle, meanwhile, only had 65. Source: NCTA

3. Missouri

Missouri had two main hubs for network infrastructure theft and vandalism in 2025: St. Louis and Kansas City.

In St. Louis, ISPs reported 361 incidences of attacks on critical network infrastructure in 2025 while Kansas City, on the other side of the state, had 261. Source: NCTA

2. Texas

Houston was the riskiest city for critical communications infrastructure in the Lone Star State last year, with 532 attacks on network infrastructure reported in 2025. Not far behind was Dallas, which had 441 incidents in 2025, followed by Austin, with 218, and San Antonio, with 141 incidents. Source: NCTA

1. California

America’s most populous state was also the most dangerous for communications infrastructure in 2025. According to the NCTA, attacks on telecom infrastructure caused over a quarter billion dollars of economic losses in 2025 last year in California. Los Angeles was far and away the leader in incidents, with 1,131 attacks on network infrastructure reported in 2025 by ISPs. Source: NCTA

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